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Year Of Millets: India's Forgotten Grain is now Conquering the World in 21st century

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Amoli International
Year Of Millets: India's Forgotten Grain is now Conquering the World in 21st century

The world's population is projected to reach 9 billion by 2050, and with it comes a growing need to produce enough food to feed everyone. As the population continues to grow, the demand for food is also increasing, putting a strain on our natural resources and leading to concerns about food security. To address this challenge, we must find new and innovative ways to produce more food using fewer resources.

 

One solution to this problem is to look to ancient crops like millets, which have been grown for thousands of years but have been largely overlooked in recent decades in favour of more commonly-grown crops like rice and wheat. Millets are known for their drought tolerance and adaptability to poor soils, making them an important crop for smallholder farmers and for increasing food security in dry and marginal areas. In the 21st century, there has been a resurgence of interest in millet as a nutritious and sustainable alternative to these more traditional crops.

 

Another reason for the comeback of millet is the increasing demand for alternative, sustainable food sources. With the world's population projected to reach 9 billion by 2050, there is a growing need to produce more food using fewer resources. Millets, with their ability to grow well in dry and marginal areas, and their low water and fertilizer requirements, are seen as an attractive option for sustainable agriculture. In addition to their environmental benefits, millets are also highly nutritious, being rich in protein, fibre, minerals, and antioxidants. 

 

Many agricultural systems worldwide have started to explore millets due to climate change which is steadily reducing productivity and acreage, in addition to the ever-increasing input costs of resource-hungry staple crops like rice, wheat, and maize. Unfortunately, those most affected by these catastrophes are those with the fewest means to address the problem, particularly in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Despite these advantages, millets are still a minor crop compared to wheat and rice, and more research and development are needed to make them more attractive to farmers, processors and consumers. For example, the development of new varieties of millet that have better grain quality, higher yields, and disease resistance would help to increase production and acceptance of millet as a staple food.

 

Millets are not widely known now, yet they have been eaten in India for over 5,000 years. Millets are a kind of cereal grain that belongs to the grass or Poaceae family. They are Asian and African in origin. In India, millets have been an important staple food for centuries, particularly for rural and tribal communities. India is the largest producer of millet in the world.

In India, the following millets are recognised:

Major millets:

1. Sorghum (Jowar)

2. Pearl Millet (Bajra)

3. Finger Millet (Ragi)

Small millets:

1. Barnyard Millet (Sanwa)

2. Proso Millet (Chena)

3. Foxtail Millet (Kakum)

4. Kodo Millet (Kodon)

5. Little Millet (Kutki)

Pseudo millets:

1. Amaranth (Rajgira)

2. Buckwheat (Kuttu)

 

Millets, which are high in fibre, vitamin B, iron, and calcium, are one of the healthiest foods on the market right now. Their ability to absorb nutrients and minerals is great, which is why they are favoured by the majority of people these days. Millets have always been every mother's solution to a balanced and nutritious diet. Millets, as a flexible item that can be used in a variety of ways, have surely found stability in feeding a nutritious diet among them.

 

Millets do not normally have a distinct hue that is attractive. However, when combined with additional ingredients like black olive paste and others, they can provide a high quotient. Millets are still in the process of becoming adopted as a food element by a large number of people. However, things are slowly and steadily changing, culminating in the comeback of millet in the food business.

 

The Government of India has also been promoting the cultivation and consumption of millet through various schemes and programs. The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) has been promoting the cultivation of millets in rainfed areas, and the National Nutritional Mission (NNM) is promoting the consumption of millets as a nutritious food. Grains, pulses, rice create the basic food necessity of human beings. You can contact us for importing quality grains from India verified sellers or producers.

 

Millets are increasingly being included in existing government initiatives. Under the National Food Security Mission, the government is pushing millet production on a mission basis. The federal government agreed to include millets in the Public Distribution System (PDS) in 2018 to promote nutrition security among the poor, while implementation would be dependent on state choices. The NITI Aayog has also advocated for the inclusion of millets in the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme and the mid-day meal programme.

 

These simple efforts can help millets become more widespread. Millets provide a possible option for food and nutrition security in India because of their health, agronomic, and environmental benefits. Despite a decline in millet output over the years, India remains the world's top producer of millet. India must capitalise on the current trend toward millets and seek to become the world's millet capital in terms of both production and consumption.

 

Overall, millets are making a comeback in the 21st century, as more people are recognizing their potential as a nutritious, sustainable and resilient crop that can help to feed the world's growing population. They are an important food source in India and have the potential to play an even greater role in addressing food security and sustainable agriculture in the country.

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